• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.540-547
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• 2021

Background: Indoor air pollutants are caused by a number of factors, such as coming in from the outside or being generated by internal activities. Typical indoor air pollutants include nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide from household items such as heating appliances and volatile organic compounds from building materials. In addition there is carbon dioxide from human breathing and bacteria from speaking, coughing, and sneezing. Objectives: According to recent research results, most indoor air pollution is known to be greatly affected by internal factors such as burning (biomass for cooking) and various pollutants. These pollutants can have a fatal effect on the human body due to a lack of ventilation facilities. Methods: We fabricated a polydopamine (PDA) layer with Ti substrates as a coating on supported glass fiber fabric to enhance its photo-activity. The PDA layer with TiO₂ was covalently attached to glass fiber fabric using the drop-casting method. The roughness and functional groups of the surface of the Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric were verified through infrared imaging microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The obtained hybrid Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric was investigated for photocatalytic activity by the removal of ammonia and an epidermal Staphylococcus aureus reduction test with lamp (250 nm, 405 nm wavelength) at 24℃. Results: Antibacterial properties were found to reduce epidermal staphylococcus aureus in the Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric under 405 nm after three hours. In addition, the Ti substrate/PDA coated glass fiber fabric of VOC reduction rate for ammonia was 50% under 405 nm after 30 min. Conclusions: An electron-hole pair due to photoexcitation is generated in the PDA layer and transferred to the conduction band of TiO₂. This generates a superoxide radical that degrades ammonia and removes epidermal Staphylococcus aureus.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2011.10a
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• pp.807-810
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• 2011

The sensor network technology for core technology of ubiquitous computing is in the spotlight recently, the research on sensor network is proceeding actively which is composed many different sensor node. USN(Ubiquitous Sensor Network) is the network that widely applies for life of human being. It works out to sense, storage, process, deliver every kind of appliances and environmental information from the stucktags and sensors. And it is possible to utilize to measure and monitor about the place of environmental pollution which is difficult for human to install. It's studied constantly since it be able to compose easily more subminiature, low-power, low-cost than previous one. And also it spotlights an important field of study, graft the green IT and IT of which the environment and IT unite stragically onto the Network. The problem for the air pollution in the office or the indoor except a specific working area is the continuously issue since the human beings have lived in the dwelling facilities. Measures for that problem are urgently needed. It's possible to solve for the freshair of outside with enough ventilation but that is the awkward situation to be managed by person. This study is the system engineering to management for indoor air condition under the sensor network. And research for efficiently manage an option.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.200-208
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• 2012

Objectives: This study investigated the performance of three separate units of a portable photoionization detector (PID, ppb-RAE 3000) for measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a laboratory. Methods: A laboratory evaluation of the accuracy, precision, and inter-instrumental variance of three separate units of a portable PID (ppb-RAE 3000) was performed. The evaluation was based on the preparation of a test air sample of known toluene or ethylacetate concentration in a Tedlar$^{(R)}$ bag. The test air sample was monitored and data were logged consecutively by the three PIDs. A certified gas of 50 ppm toluene was also monitored during the test to ensure the reliability of the generated test air sample. Four different concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 2 TLV were used and a series of five measurements for each concentration level was performed. The accuracy was evaluated using National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) criteria. Results: The results from the oldest ppb-RAE3000 unit among the three test units generally fell outside the NIOSH recommended accuracy criteria of ${\pm}25%$, whereas the other two units produced results which were acceptable at, or greater than, 25 ppm of toluene, or 0.5 TLV. These units also met the NIOSH criteria for some ethylacetate measurements but the results were not consistent. Conclusions: Considering the inconsistent performance of these ppb-RAE 3000 units, this device may not be appropriate for use as an alternative to the standard measurement methods. However, it can serve good survey instruments to identify exposure sources or concentration profiles. For all applications, the ppb-RAE 3000 should be used with frequent calibration checks, additional validation using a reference material, and careful maintenance.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.27
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• pp.12.1-12.8
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify the health and environmental risk factors of air contaminants that influence environmental and respiratory diseases in Gyeongju, Pohang and Ulsan in South Korea, with a focus on volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Methods: Samples were collected by instantaneous negative pressure by opening the injection valve in the canister at a fixed height of 1 to 1.5 m. The sample that was condensed in $-150^{\circ}C$ was heated to $180^{\circ}C$ in sample pre-concentration trap using a 6-port switching valve and it was injected to a gas chromatography column. The injection quantity of samples was precisely controlled using an electronic flow controller equipped in the gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. Results: The quantity of the VOC emissions in the industrial area was 1.5 to 2 times higher than that in the non-industrial area. With regards to the aromatic hydrocarbons, toluene was detected at the highest level of 22.01 ppb in Ulsan, and chloroform was the halogenated hydrocarbons with the highest level of 10.19 ppb in Pohang. The emission of toluene was shown to be very important, as it accounted for more than 30% of the total aromatic hydrocarbon concentration. Conclusions: It was considered that benzene in terms of the cancer-causing grade standard, toluene in terms of the emission quantity, and chloroform and styrene in terms of their grades and emission quantities should be selected for priority measurement substances.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.231-240
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• 2005

The number of cases exceeding environmental standards of atmospheric ozone in the major cities in Korea has steadily increased during the past decades. In order to understand and analyze the atmospheric reactions in the atmosphere, especially the secondary photochemical reactions, smog chambers studies have been performed very actively by many research groups worldwide. However, these studies have focused on the mechanism of photochemical reactions in high concentration conditions, not at the ambient levels. Therefore, in-depth studies in these conditions are essentially needed to realize exact mechanism in the atmosphere near the earth surface, especially at Korean atmospheric conditions. In this experiment, the mechanism of photochemical smog was examined through a comparative experiment of smog chambers under sun light and black light conditions. The results of our study indicated that concentrations of ozone, aldehyde, and PAN increased as the radiation of light source increases. Photochemical reaction patterns can be considered quite similar for both black light and sun light experiments. Based on our experiments using toluene as a reactant which is present at significant high levels in ambient air relative to other VOCs, it was found that toluene could contribute notably to oxidize NO to $NO_2$, this reaction can eventually generate some other photochemical oxidants such as ozone, aldehyde, and PAN. The results of simulation and experiments generally showed a good agreement quite well except for the case of $O_3$. The restriction of oxidization of NO to $NO_2$ seems to cause this difference, which is mainly from the reaction of peroxy radical itself and other reactants in the real gas.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.141-147
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• 2000

Due to a rapid in automobiles since the 1980’s, the concentration of NO, and HC has also increased along with cases of VOCs. These air pollutants have created $O_3$ concentration, which cause a harmful effect to the human health. This issue has become a subject of great public interest. For this paper, to compare the concentration of $O_3$, NO, N $O_2$ between the rural and urban area in the winter, the concentrations of each have been measuredevery hour during Jan.~Feb. 2000, 1998, respectively. To calculate the Photochemical Steady State, $\Phi$= $J_{N O_2}$[N $O_2$]/ $k_1$[NO][ $O_3$], temperature and $J_{ N O_2}$ has been determined. The NO concentration in the rural are showed at below 10 ppb while the NO concentration in the urban area showed maximum value of 90~120 ppb. But the $O_3$ concentration in both areas showed less than 30 ppb. The reason is that the N $O_2$ photodissiciation rate is low due to the temperature being below 2$^{\circ}C$ and less than 60 degrees in the solar zenith angle during the winter time, which makes the $O_3$ concentration in both areas, similar in the concentration level. N $O_2$ photodissociation rate in both ares showed maximum value of 3.0mW/$\textrm{cm}^2$. Values of $\Phi$ determined from the rural area was consistently the unity, approaching 1. But values of $\Phi$ determined from the urban was roughly higher than unity, approaching above 1or 2 for clear sky-high sun(10:00~16:00).

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.325-336
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• 2006

The presence of volatile organic compounds (VOC), produced and released from both anthropogenic and natural sources, can accelerate the degradation of air quality in the surrounding area. In this study, we investigated the emission concentrations of VOC based on a total of 115 sample analysis made from 47 companies (representing 17 types of industry) at the Ban Wall industrial complex (Jun. 2004 to Jan. 2005). Through a statistical analysis of these measurement data, we inspected the emission characteristics of VOC in relation with industrial type and processing unit. When these data were compared each other, toluene was found to record the highest value of 423 ppb followed by ethylbenzene (68.3 ppb), m, p-xylene (43.6 ppb), o-xylene (27.2 ppb), styrene (23.9 ppb), and benzene (16.4 pub). In addition, by converting these VOC concentration data into malodor intensity, we attempted to account for their distribution patterns in terms of relative contribution to the malodor formation. The results of odor intensity conversion generally indicated that the odor intensities of individual VOC do not exceed the degree of 1. When our VOC results were compared against other odorous compounds measured concurrently, the results were highly contrasting each other. Despite relative insignificance as odorous compounds, these VOCs are generally found ubiquitously and in abundant quantities in this strong source area.

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Health Society Conference
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• 2005.06a
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• pp.319-322
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• 2005

Porous building materials are not only sources of indoor air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) but they are also strong sinks of these pollutants. Volatile organic compounds have been implicated in impaired spermatogenesis, increase in the incidence of malformed sperm and decrease in the percentage of moving sperm. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the direct effects of various volatile organic compounds (phenol, formaldehyde; HCHO, ethanol, toluene, styrene) on motility and survival rate of human sperm in vitro. Semen samples from 3 health subjects were prepared using swim-up method and 1-10mM volatile organic compounds were added to the test medium. HCHO and phenol produced significant decreases in the motility and survival rate with a different potency. The most potent inhibition of motility and survival rate was observed after exposure to HCHO. Less than 1mM HCHO significantly inhibited sperm motility. When ethanol is added directly to sperm, at concentrations equivalent to that in serum after heavy drinking, these damaging effects were lowest compared with other volatile organic compounds. Present study shows that each compound has differential toxic potency to human sperm and we need special caution for the use of HCHO and phenol.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.1409-1418
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• 2014

Foundry has an important economic value in the industry. However, the generation of air pollutants like particulate and odor are serious. Due to the unavoidable usage of molding sand, particulate occurs in almost all the processes. That accounts for the majority of respirable dust in the size less than $10{\mu}m$ As well as particulate, over 22 species of odor-causing gases and VOCs including hydrogen sulfide and ammonia are occurred. Therefore, the development of equipment that can simultaneously remove TVOC and particulate is regarded as an essential research. In this study, the spraying absorbent system was connected with the shear bag filter for the purpose to remove TVOC and particulate simultaneously. Maximization of process efficiency for the affective factors like the powder combination and injection method is conducted. The experiment was performed at the de-molding process of one foundry plant. Through these devices, the removal efficiency of more than 95% for TVOC was achieved with the absorbent that composed by 800 mesh Activated carbon (80%) and 300 mesh zeolite (20%). Also, the durability and economic evaluation were assessed. In the result of Durability assessment, the available recovery to maintain the deodorizing effect at 90% was counted to 350 degree.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.163-174
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• 2020

Particulate matter levels are rapidly increasing daily, and this can affect human health. Therefore, air pollutant emissions from sea vessels require management. This study evaluates the status of air pollutants, focusing on air pollutant emissions from the vessels of the Korea Coast Guard (KCG), and proposes national management measures to reduce emissions. According to a report recently released (2018) by the National Institute of Environmental Research (NIER), emissions from vessels constituted 6.4 % of the total domestic emissions, including 13.1 % NO_x, 10.9 % SO_x, and 9.6 % particulate matter (PM10/PM2.5). Among the rates of pollutant emission from vessels, the emission rates of domestic and overseas cargo vessels were the highest (50.6 %); the ratio of fishing boats was 42.6 %. With respect to jurisdictional sea area, 44.1 % of the emissions are from the south sea, including the Busan and Ulsan ports, and 24.8 % of the emissions are from the west sea, including the Gwangyang and Yeosu ports. The KCG inspects boarding lines to manage emission conditions and regulate air pollutant emissions, but it takes time and effort to operate various discharge devices and measure fuel oil standards. In addition, owing to busy ship schedules, inspection documents are limited in terms of management. Therefore, to reduce the air pollutant emissions of such vessels, regulations will be strengthened to check for air pollutants, and a monitoring system based on actual field data using KCG patrol ships will be established, for each sea area, to manage the emissions of such vessels. Furthermore, there is a need for technological development and institutional support for the introduction of environmentally friendly vessels.